New septic system at Tiverton High School

On the “Must Do” list for school officials this summer, this one was No. 1 and circled in red. They had to get the high school septic system complex replaced in July and August so the toilets could flush in September. They succeeded.

On the “Must Do” list for school officials this summer, this one was No. 1 and circled in red.

They had to get the high school septic system complex replaced in July and August so the toilets could flush in September.

They succeeded.

Workers spread grass seed and repaved roads behind the high school on Thursday, putting the finishing touches on a renovation of the septic system that serves the junior and senior high school and the Ranger Elementary School, all on North Brayton Road.

“We were able to get the work done in the summer,” said School Committee Chairwoman Sally Black. “The system was connected before school started.”

The school department was ordered by the state Department of Environmental Management to replace the septic system serving the schools complex.

The department was ordered to replace the system in 2012, but was granted an extension to allow for planning and putting the contract out to bid.

“The DEM worked well with us,” Black said. “We were able to get a contractor and put this in our budget.”

The department budgeted $400,000 for the work. The winning bid, from East Coast Construction of Middletown, was $655,000.

The schools had a reserve fund, however, because a mediator ruled in 2012 that the town shortchanged the school department for two years, giving it less than was approved by voters at the financial town meeting.

A check for $600,000 was sent by the town to the schools.

“We knew this was in the works, so we planned on it,” Black said. “We held onto the money we received because we were worried this project might go over the amount we had budgeted for it. These sorts of projects sometimes do.”

Workers cleared out of the worksite Thursday. The portable toilet they used while repairing the permanent facilities is still at the site.